Whitney Houston's life was heartbreakingly short, but it was filled with achievements. On what would have been her 49th birthday today, we can see how much she accomplished in her lifetime.

The Newark, New Jersey native provided a soundtrack to our lives in the late '80s, racking up seven consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Those tracks included hits like ...

... 1985's "Saving All My Love For You":

... 1986's "How Will I Know":

... 1987's "I Want to Dance With Somebody":

... and 1988's "So Emotional":

Not to mention, she inspired thousands of singers with her recording of "I Will Always Love You," which spent 14 weeks at No. 1 after its release in 1992. The soundtrack on which the single appeared, "The Bodyguard," was also a smash, spending 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

"The Bodyguard" soundtrack also won the Album of the Year Grammy in 1993, one of six that Houston earned throughout her career. ("I Will Always Love You" also picked up a Grammy at the same ceremony for Record of the Year.)

But while her music is a lasting part of our memories, so are her movie roles, particularly her turn in 1992's "The Bodyguard"; 1995's "Waiting to Exhale"; 1996's "The Preacher' s Wife"; and 1997's "Cinderella."

Idolator found Houston's film and TV career to be "surprisingly ... small" for a woman "with such charisma, beauty and confidence on-screen."

Perhaps that would've changed had she lived. When Houston died at 48 in February, her latest film project, "Sparkle," was being produced for an August 17 release. The cast has talked extensively about what a positive presence she was on the set, and how she brought so much to the film, both personally and professionally.

The film's star, Jordin Sparks, recounted on CNN Thursday morning that just as Houston thought she was the perfect fit for the movie, the feeling was mutual:

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there as a special on troll abuse last night..basically its people who get on a computer and drive non troll nuthts...be aware these trolls hack into computers and proudly identify who they are (DAN)...actually admitted to it. we have that in the file.

a troll may pretend to flirt with you to set you up with the girlfriend...gee that hasn't been figured yet(yawn)

these are people who basically drive people away. see you at the cleaners.

Some of these comments disappoint me. Why are some of you so cruel? What happened in your lives to feel comfortable making fun of the downfalls of others? It's okay to have an opinion but be careful. You have a mother, grandmother and maybe an aunt or a daughter. God be with you on judgement day.

just saw it...at the end of the video she shouts out I DIDN'T KNOW like 5 or 6 times - that was the church choir girl coming out of her. thanks for the video recommendation! ...nice remembering her this way!

First, I don't apologize for Anything. Second, what makes you think you are even important enough to hate me? Third, your so-called god didn't give us Whitney, a woman who refused to swallow did. I am Sokman, & I approve this message.

I look to you was the last professional album Whitney recorded. i saw the video for the first time today. her voice husky from her drug battle but the spirit was totally Whitney...she hit some high notes which was great to hear...she appeared to have mean't every word of the song and her energy looked great.

this death should have never happened, no deaths should happen. in reading about this woman in the last 2 days and learning about her legacy i feel so badly she was a weak person who could not fight this .

she looked beautiful in the video and its just so sad this woman has been called a coke, crack head by the public.

I look to you was the last professional album Whitney recorded. i saw the video for the first time today. her voice husky from her drug battle but the spirit was totally Whitney...she hit some high notes which was great to hear...she appeared to have mean't every word of the song and her energy looked great.

this death should have never happened, no deaths should happen. in reading about this woman in the last 2 days and learning about her legacy i feel so badly she was a weak person who could not fight this .

she looked beautiful in the video and its just so sad this woman has been called a coke, crack head by the public.

Wow can't understand why so many people are upset by this article....remember elvis, bet your parents do. seems they wrote about him every year on his birthday and he couldn't act. shake your family tree and see how many pill adicts, alcohol abusers, pedophiles, murderers, etc fall out.

God gave us the gift of Whitney Houston to be cherished, remembered and passed on for generations to come. Whitney, her songs and her voice are a National Treasure and there will never be a voice like hers.

whitney was around people with drugs all the time she needed someone to point her in a direction and most of all help help her get off the crack. you need a strong willed person to help your get away from drugs... thick skinned person.

there are mistake and then there are "mistakes" ... remember folks this is a blog none of us know each other and we really do no know who we are talking to. use it in proper fashion. have fun with it or just go away.

CNN, after all of the caustic comments posted after Whitney's death, why add insult to injury by setting this article up for comments. It appears that you thrive on seeing certain people and topics raked over the coals. If you were trying to sink down another level, you made it.

A drug user is just that no matter what race so what's the point of stating she was a black user... for all the negative ppl comments.... if u stood before God right now would u be not have one blemish we call sin...if u have not given your life to God u are a sinner that's what sinners DO... SIN... PLEASE PICK UP THE STONES UR CASTING AND PUT THEM BACK IN YOUR POCKETS... FOR U HAVE NO ROOM TO JUDGE!!!!

Wow there are some real judgmental sickos who live in the world. I should send a camera crew to YOUR houses in the middle of the night. Let's see what freaky disgusting behaviors YOU are trying to cover up.

the Bible says how you judge you will be judged. there are both whites and blacks on crack cocaine just like a bullet it knows no color. We need to pray that those who bring it into the country will fall into the hands of " THE LIVING GOD " BECAUSE HE HAS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS. BECAUSE SIN IS SIN TO GOD .... SELF-MURDER, DRUGS, BACK-BITING, GOSSIP, LYING.... ETC, ETC, ETC ALL WEIGHS THE SAME IN GOD'S BOOK. WE ALL NEED TO CHECK OURSELVES BEFORE WE WRECK OURSELVE......

I had always loved you from a little girl when i was 8 years old, im a big time fan of yours. And i will always love you. I was deeply sadened about your passing. But now i know your in a better place now. Happy Birthday to you my dear. I will always live with you in my heart. I always kept all of your music, i had a whole collection. I fell in love when i first heard your music, from a little girl. Saving all my love for you, and i been loving you ever since. You kept me inspired by your beautiful voice and your great talent, and for being such a beautiful actress. May peace be with you darling. Happy Birthday to you darling. God Bless Your soul my darling I Will always think about you. I truly miss you. GOD BLESS YOU. REST IN PEACE!

Dear Whitney, YOu were the absoulute BEST!!!! You were THE PERFECT artist with the PERFECT VOICE. Your songs, and also your life has inspired many musicians and those who could only dream of being one. I believe the world would agree, if there was ever a singer who was the actual definition of a TRUE singer, that singer would be WHITNEY HOUSTON. Thank you for you music, your live performance, your movies, your life...THANK YOU. I also thank the Lord for sending us a piece of heaven, cause you were definitely that. I know your in heaven singing lead in the heavenly choir. Hit a few high notes for me until I get there whit! I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Despite these idiots that will never be anybody nor make it anywhere but across the street and back we the people with right minds and good hearts love you & miss you. Happy 49th Birthday you left us with great music that will never ever die, something these fruit cakes and jerks on here will never be able to say they just mad that when they are gone no one will ever mention them let alone miss them...lol. Girl you know you were the voice that will can never be compared to any other. RIP angel and in knowing you don't have to put up with foolish people anymore. LOVE YOU and Happy Happy Birthday to you!!

REMEMBER...YOU dont know what God has in store for you. EVERYONE has made bad choices/decisions but Whitney lived her life for the world to see. WHO are WE TO JUDGE. Only the one who gave her life will be the ultmate judge. No One becomes an addict by choice. RIP Whitney!

there are mistake and then there are "mistakes" ... remember folks this is a blog none of us know each other and we really do no know who we are talking to. use it in proper fashion. have fun with it or just go away.

Obviously, you are uneducated. You need to read more about addiction and who typically uses what drugs. Whitney was not a "typical anything." She accomplished more in her life than you have accomplished in a day. Stop being racist and educate yourself. Stop being a "typical bigot". Get a life!

Goodness, so many people are so rude! I mean, she passed on, but she's human like the rest of us, we aren't perfect, we make mistakes! And sometimes, they're too big to fix, and the damage is done, like in this case what happened to Whitney in her earlier years. Also, if you aren't a fan of her, then why did you even click on this story? No one wants to hear about the garbage you thought she was etc. People like you make the world what it is today; and it is not exactly a nice place.

I didn't follow Whitney Houston, but I believe in Karma. And I think comments like the one that leads off this page will ultimately be met with some form of Karma. Blogs bring out the worst of the worst. Lord help you.

Thank you...while she will on in infamy the haters here will be remembered on by those the came in direct contact with. I hope they will be remembered kinder that they are Ms. Whitney. Ms. Whitney will be remembered world wide. She left a legacy for all people.

She didn't have problems to overcome... she had BAD CHOICES SHE WILLFULLY CONTINUED TO MAKE. there's a difference. she wasn't a victim. don't paint her as a victim. she CHOSE EVERY SINGLE ISSUE she had to deal with. No one accidentally does drugs over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. No one accidentally becomes an alcoholic. no one accidentally stays in / returns to an abusive relationship. THOSE ARE CHOICES.

Why are we putting crack heads up on pedastals? Yeah she "was" a great singer years ago but look what she did with her life and talent. Another dead junkie just like Winehouse. We have celebrities and everyday folk who die from horrible cancers murder and accidents and no one plasters thier pictures all over the papers! I will always love you – was written and first performed by Dolly Parton whom Houston never gave an ounce of credit to. Sorry no empathy here!

yes Rebecca, Whitney Houston may have screwed up her life which wound up killing her in the end but Whitney DID gave Dolly Parton a LOT of credit for the song. i guess you're either just to young to realize just how much credit Whitney gave to Dolly or you simply haven't paid much attention to much of anything beyond your own nose.

You did not walk in her shoes so back off. It is none of yours or anyone elses business regarding a singer's life. If the media and nasty people left her alone maybe things would have turned out different.

Whitney was and will always be the best female singer ever. Happy Birthday Whitney I loved and still love your music. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.

This is so incredible that the world is still worrying and talking about Whitney Houston. So many actors have died in the last few months and many of them with out much of a mention, and they were good christian people, who lived their lives with out being in trouble all the time. Yet not much was said when they died. But.... you have Whitney Houston, who was a pill popping drunk, a loud mouth on that ridiculous reality show with the drug addict husband and everybody worships her. It doesn't make any sense. She was found dead because of pills and alcohol in a bath tub and you people all want to worship this kind of behavior ? its just amazing

Linda, Linda, Linda..here is your opportunity to pay homage to those you feel are forgotten but you choose to comment on Ms. Houston..such a pity! Could it be you're more interested in Ms. Houston than you kno? Think about Linda!